Euro Area GDP in Q2 Drops 0.7% on last year

GDP for Q2 did however grow a marginal 0.3% compared to Q1, bringing the euro area out of "recession". Do however remember the nonsense of GDP (here).

The GDP components are not reported until the second estimate of Q2 GDP which will be published in early September. It's therefore difficult to assess the figures in more detail. Zerohedge writes today,

Don't buy the propaganda? You are not alone - even Goldman said to not take the
data at face value: "The solid Q2 GDP print should not be taken at face
value as it partly reflects a “statistical payback”. Moreover, the weakness in
French investment spending is a reason for caution. More generally, the Euro
area still has to cope with balance sheet adjustment required in both the
private and public sectors, and continuing fiscal austerity will continue to
weigh on demand for some time to come." We give Europe at most two quarters
before the net foreign capital rotation fades and the continent reenters an
unprecedented triple dip "recession."

The Banca D'Italia €-Coin Index for July, which attempts to forecast quarter on quarter percentage changes in GDP, suggests no imminent improvement in GDP for the next quarter. It also suggests the slight improvement in the July forecast benefited from survey improvements for households and firms and an "easing of tensions in the financial markets". The financial markets could however quickly tighten again as any improvement is fragile since the euro area debt problems are becoming worse instead of being solved. Whatever the trigger, political and/or financial, a correction in the U.S. stock market could very well be the trigger leading to increased "tensions" across the euro area once again.